Republicans Begging Supreme Court for the “Right” to Lie in Campaign Ads

[babylonsister]

Republicans Begging Supreme Court for the “Right” to Lie in Campaign Ads
posted by Salvatore Aversa January 23, 2014

snip//

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of Susan B. Anthony List (SBA) versus the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC). The case stems back to the 2010 election cycle when SBA took out a billboard claiming that then-Representative Steven Driehaus, a Democrat from Ohio, was a supporter of taxpayer-funded abortions because he supported the Affordable Care Act, also know as ObamaCare.

The billboard was false and misleading. In return, Representative Driehaus threatened to sue the ad agency if it was not taken down. Driehaus also filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission, saying that the ad violated the state law that made a crime out of posting a known lie in a campaign ad.

The Ohio Election Commission agreed, and thus the case was born. Now, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the arguments. The Susan B. Anthony List is claiming First Amendment rights.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to have our arguments heard at the Supreme Court and hope that not only will SBA List’s First Amendment rights be affirmed, but those of all Americans. The Ohio Election Commission statute demonstrates complete disregard for the Constitutional right of citizens to criticize their elected officials,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, SBA List President.

What Citizens United did to campaign finances, SBA List v OEC will do to the legitimacy of the political debate if the Conservative/activist Supreme Court rules in favor of SBA. The effects could be far reaching as well.

Imagine how low a campaign would be able to go if they were not required to abide by any kind of ethics. A candidate would legally be allowed to say that the other candidate molested a grandparent or killed a dog in front of a bunch of children with no repercussion. Does it stop with campaign ads, or can we claim freedom of speech in other aspects? Does this mean that libel and slander no longer have a place in the criminal justice system?

more...

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/republicans-begging-supreme-court-for-the-right-to-lie-in-campaign-ads/

[cthulu2016]

1. Yes, the right to say whatever you want includes lying

And what F'ing panel of wise men is going to determine what is "lying"???

Please. Of course the 1st amendment covers lying in political ads.

[upaloopa]

2. We'll see won't we?

[dsc]

3. actually no it doesn't

or atleast many states think it doesn't. NC and NJ to name two let people sue for such ads. I will say that to preemptively censor the ads could lead to problems but so would letting lies run with no sanction.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. The "panel of wise men"

will be individual juries in civil cases. You know--the same "panel of wise men" we use to decide who should be put to death and things like that.

[bemildred]

5. Lying in elections is fraud, plain and simple.

And as we all know, there is plenty of money at stake.

[JaneyVee]

6. Don't they just do it all the time anyway.

[rhett o rick]

7. I think they will find that "free speech means freedom to lie." nm

[freshwest]

8. Next GOP meme: Obama is a chimera made of black panther DNA from Latin America.

Or a giraffe from Africa that fell into an oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico?

I suggest we make up something more outrageous and say the GOP said it.

If they get away with this, and they most likely will, under the Rushbo mantra of 'It's just a joke!'

Rinse, repeat...